Why Use Application Launchers???

[jbarley]

Another idea I have'nt read in this thread, is using the Finder to launch apps,
Drag your most often used apps or documents or folders up into the top toolbar of the Finder for instant access.
I often have 15-20 App or Utilities ready to go from my Finder Toolbar.
jb.

[texanpenguin]

OK, I'm kind of an anomaly in this respect:

When I was on Panther, I *adored* LaunchBar. I couldn't use a different Panther machine efficiently without it. I was fine with Tiger, though, because it had spotlight (and Cmd+Enter to load the top hit).

That was fine, until I installed Tiger on my main machine and Spotlight had a crapload of files in its database. Applications never seem to be the top hit for me at all (unless I'm very, very specific).

I craved for LaunchBar, but instead gave the free QuickSilver a go. It was nice graphically, much quicker than Spotlight, and clever. But it wasn't LaunchBar.

I think I'm going to look into things (and Butler) to see if I can reproduce LaunchBar's functionality more closely with a free solution.

I use my Dock for very specific things: Stickies, Web Apps, Keynote, Web Design stuff, Programming stuff, Adobe stuff, and then informational apps like iCal and Address Book (though I could potentially use the Dashboard for that).



App Launchers are great because they are so quick, even to launch an obscure application I haven't used for about five years. Niiice.

I guess the main difference is that some people are keyboard people and some people are mouse people (which usually is determined by their proficiency with a keyboard). I know my dad couldn't use an application launcher like LaunchBar because it takes him so freaking long to find the right keys on the keyboard.

[Zimbop]

I have dock hiding on and only use the dock for drag and drop. If I put all my application in the dock they'd all be 3 pixels square. If you use about 5 application the dock is great - if you're a programmer and have to use dozens of apps then the dock is useless.

Besides, I have two 19 inch monitors and still find the dock takes up too much room, I like to have windows totally maximised and not lose that 10% of vertical space at the bottom.

[fryke]

The "folders in Dock" solution really isn't a solution for people who adore stuff like LaunchBar or Butler. I guess the LBers of us really want a clean Dock, but instant access to any and all apps/utilities installed.

With the years, I've also come to the conclusion that writers like me, who probably spend much more time on the keyboard than those more "mouse-centric" people, tend to like _not_ having to lift the fingers from the keyboard only to launch an app.

[DeltaMac]

Originally Posted by jbarley

Another idea I have'nt read in this thread, is using the Finder to launch apps,
Drag your most often used apps or documents or folders up into the top toolbar of the Finder for instant access.
I often have 15-20 App or Utilities ready to go from my Finder Toolbar.
jb.

Works good if your OS X version is old enough. This function (using a window's toolbar) was dropped when the sidebar was added in Panther.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by DeltaMac

Yes, you can, but why would you want to? With Butler (and other similar apps) you don't need to add permanent clutter to the desktop/dock for apps just used occasionally.

Occasionally? Oh, no, I was only referring to apps used frequently--those are the only ones I keep in my Dock.

[DeltaMac]

Originally Posted by Amie

Occasionally? Oh, no, I was only referring to apps used frequently--those are the only ones I keep in my Dock.

And, with a large number of frequently used apps (say more than 50), butler is ideal - helping your workflow become more efficient - and that's one of its purposes.

[jbarley]

Originally Posted by DeltaMac

Works good if your OS X version is old enough. This function (using a window's toolbar) was dropped when the sidebar was added in Panther.

Wrong!
I'm using OS x 10.4.6, and this function (using the Finders Toolbar) works like a charm.
jb.